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You’ve definitely heard of it and maybe even celebrate it. But many of us aren’t exactly sure how Endangered Species Day came to be. Moreover, what does being listed as an endangered species actually mean?

The U.S. Congress created Endangered Species Day in 2006, more than three decades after it passed the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1973. The act was created to prevent plants and animals from going extinction as a “consequence of economic growth and development untempered by adequate concern and conservation.”

The day, which is celebrated every year on the third Friday of May, is designed to raise awareness about the plight of endangered species and the vital role they play in maintaining biodiversity. Furthermore, it’s meant to galvanize people into taking action to prevent these animals from dying off.

Today, Endangered Species Day is observed by government agencies and celebrated by zoos, parks, nonprofit organizations and schools across the country.

But what does being listed as an endangered species actually mean, and who gets to decide the status of a species?

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) defines itself as a “global authority on the status of the natural world." It has the most extensive inventory on the status of species worldwide. The IUCN assesses how at risk a species is of extinction by examining numerous factors. These include population size, threatening processes, geographic range and rate of population decline or growth.

​The IUCN Red List is comprised of animals that have been labeled as threatened and is further broken down into three categories: vulnerable, endangered and critically endangered. According to the Red List, more than 23,000 species, including amphibians, birds, reef-building corals and conifers are threatened.

The U.S. meanwhile, assesses whether species are threatened or endangered using a different system. The ESA, mentioned above, is co-administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The agencies look at a range of criteria including destruction of habitat, disease, regulatory mechanisms and predation.

However, in addition to categorizing a species as endangered, the act also requires the government to take steps to protect it, such as restricting development in that species’ habitat.

Around 2,300 species are listed as threatened or endangered, according to the ESA. A little less than a third of those are foreign species, which reside outside of the country.

Many believe the ESA has successfully prevented the extinction of numerous species, most notably the bald eagle. However, others argue it hasn’t done enough since so many species are still on the list. Furthermore, since the list is decided by government agencies, some argue politics impacts decision making. ​But Endangered Species Day is about much more than if we agree or disagree with how and why species are listed as endangered. It’s is a reminder that we, as individuals, can do our part to protect these animals that are on the brink of extinction.

Here are some tips on what you can do to prevent endangered species from disappearing forever.

Don’t buy products made from threatened or endangered species. Remember this when traveling.

Choose products that are sustainable and recyclable. Stay away from single-use plastics.